Dispensing apparatus



July 22, 1958 A. H. AK ERMAN, JR DISPENSING APPARATUS Filed July 29, 1955 INVENTOR. ARTHUR H. cxf/eM/v, .m

United States nt DisPENslNG APPARATUS j ArthurH. Ackerman, Jr., Jackson, Mich. Application July 29, 195s, serial No. 525,301

1o Claims. (ci. zza-139) "This invention relates generally, to improvements in dispensing devices, and, more particularly, to an improved type of such device wherein means are provided for measuring, mixing and dispensing predetermined `quantities of a plurality of ingredients, such as dental alloys, mercury and the like, for use in the preparation of dental amalgam,vand for other like purposes.

The principal object of this invention is the provision of a dispenser of the aforementioned class, which shall be simple and inexpensive of construction, economical of'r'rianufacture, durable and efficient in operation.

It is another object of this invention to provide a dispensing device for dispensing simultaneously a plurality of ypredetermined quantities of various ingredients, from storage chambers in the dispenser, so as to produce a properfmixture of such ingredients for ready use thereof.

, lt is a further object of this invention lto provide a dispensing device ofthe above mentioned general character comprising, a body portion provided with a pair of vertically disposed, spaced apart bores in the upper end thereof, cover means enclosing the upper end of said vertical bores, a transverse bore in said body portion below said verticalbores, a first pair of openings in said bodyfportion between said transverse bore and each of said vertical bores, a rotatable shaft mounted in said transverse bore, means forl rotating said shaft, a pair of pockets'in said shaft and adapted to register with said openings, a funnel fixed on the lower side of said body portion, and, a second-pair of openings in said body portion below said transverse bore and adapted to register with said pockets and said funnel.

It is a further object of this invention to provide ad- ,instable means coacting with one or more of the ingredient holdingchambers `and the rotary controlling valve therefor, whereby the predetermined quantity of such ingredient or ingredients may be varied as desired to produce the'desired proper mixture.

'It is a still further object of this invention to provide a dispenser of this class, which is compact and attractive inform, and, which Ican be conveniently mounted on a wall or table for ready'use thereof.

Other objects, features and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the following detailed description and appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawing forming a part of the specification wherein like reference numerals designate corresponding parts of the several views.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 isa perspective view of an illustrative embodiment of the invention;

`Fig. 2 is an elevational sectional view of the structure illustrated in Fig. 1, taken along the line 2-2 thereof;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the base portion of thel illustrative embodiment;

Fig. k4 isan elevational sectional view of a modified rotary valve usedin the invention; and,

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary relevational sectional view simi- 3 lil ICC 2 lar to Fig. 2, but showinga further modification of the invention.

Before explaining indetail the present invention, it is to be understood, that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and arrange- In the drawings the dispenser is generally indicated by the numeral 10, and comprises an upper body portion 11, and a base portion 12. The upper or body portion il is preferably made from a solid block of plastic, suitable light-weight metal, or other like material, and is provided with an upwardly extending flange 14 on the rearward edge ofthe upper side, which may be secured to a wall, as by the screws 16.

As best seen in Fig. 2, the body portion 11 is provided with a pair of spaced apart vertically disposed bores 18 and 2li, adapted to form a pair of storage chambers for an alloy`22 and mercury 24, respectively. The storage chambers 18 and 20 are open at the top of the body portion 11 and -are provided with suitable covers 26 and 28, respectively, which may be made from any suitable plastic and may be secured in said chambers by a press fit. The lower ends of the chambers 18 and 2t) are tapered downwardly and inwardly as indicated by' shaft4 or rotary valve 40 having a pair of spaced apart pockets 42 and 44, which are adapted to register with theupper outlet ports 3,4 and 36, respectively, when the rotary Valve 40 is turned to a first position. A second pair of lower outlet ports 46 and 48 are provided in the body portion 11, below 'the transverse bore 3S, and,

in alignment with the upper ports 34 and 36, respectively. v i

The pockets 42 and 44 are adapted to register with the lower outlet ports v.46 and 48, respectively, when the rotary valve 40 .is turned toa second position.

The outer ends of the rotary valve40 are each provided with an outwardly extending threaded extension 50 and 52, on which` are threadably mounted the knobs 54 and 56, respectively, which knobs serve to abut the sides of the body portion 11 and retain the rotary valve 40 in the proper axiall position. The one knob 56 has an integral handle 58f adapted for rotating the rotary valve 40. f

A pairof stops 60 and 62 are mounted in the side of the body portion 11, in positions which are apart, and, said stops function to limit the rotary movement of said handle 5S. One end of the transverse bore 38 is provided with an enlarged part 63 in which is operatively mounted a coil spring 64, adapted to fit over the rotary shaft 4t? and to have one end 66 fixed to the body portion 1l,V and the other end 68 fixed in the knob 56.

The rotary valve '40 isl provided with an axial aperture '70, which is in'alignment with a similar aperture72 through the knob 5,6, and, in which yapertures is .threadablymounted an elongated screw 74. The forward end of the adjustablescrew 74 is adapted toprotrude into the mercury pocket 44, whereby, the size or volume of the pocket 44 may be. changed, as desired, by merely threading the screw 74 inwardly and outwardlyv of said,y

storage chambers.

vided with a plurality of screw holesL 76 therethrough, which are adapted to register with similar screw holes 78\in the lower surface of the body portion 11. A plurality of suitable screws: Si) areadapted to bethreaded in the screw holes 76 and 78, soras to xedly secureY the base 112- to the body portio-n 1.1

It will be noted, that the' alloy ports'-` 34j andA 46" are` larger than the mercury ports 3'6 and 48; because a greater quantity of alloy is lused in making the final mixture. The base'portion 12 is provided with a vertical opening 82, which passes' completely through the said base portion, and; which is disposed immediately below the lower alloy port 46. A chute 84 is` formed in the base portion 12, immediately bel'ow'the mercury port 48'. Th'echute 84 tapers downwardly fromy a point immediately below the mercury port 48 and empties into the verticaly opening 82. A spout 86 is iixedly mounted on the lower side of the base portionv 1'2", by any suitable means, and, is in registration with the opening 82. For decorative purposes, the sides of the base portion 12- may be provided with' a plurality of grooves 87 around the periphery thereof.

In the practice of the invention, the. chambers 22 and 24 would be lled with alloy andv mercury, respectively. The coil springl 64 biases the handle 58 into an upper position against the upper stop 62, as shown in Fig. 2'. WhenV the handle 58 is in said upper position,

. the pockets 42 and 44fregist'er with the ports 34 and 36,

respectively, and are filled with ingredients from the When the handle 58 is moved in a counter clockwise direction, as'viewed from the right side of Fig. 2, andy downwardly into engagement with the lower stop 60, the pockets 42 and 44 will register with the lower ports 46- and 48, respectively, and, the ingredients in said pockets will pass into the opening 82,'a`nd the chute 84, and thence downwardly :into the discharge spout 86 and into a suitablev container for further operations thereon. It vwill be understood, that the opening 82, in the base portion l12, andthe spout 86,- are preferably placed directly beneath the alloy port 46, sincethe alloy has a tendency to pile up on any slopingv surface. When the operator releases the handle 58', the spring 64 will rotate 4the rotary valve 40, so as to' bring the pockets 42- and 44 into registration with the upper ports 34 and 36, respectively. The rotary valve 40 will be rotated until they handle 56' abuts the upper stop 62.

Fig. 4 discloses a modified rotary valve 40, in which the pockets 42 and 44 are provided with threaded plugs 88 and 99,Y respectively, in the lower ends thereof. The threaded plugs 88 and 90 are provided with cross slots 92 and 94, respectively. The aforementioned plugs may be adjustedv upwardly and downwardly by means of a screwdriver being fitted into the slots 92 and 92, and turning the plugs, so as to adjust the size of said pockets. The dispenser may be disassembled for the adjustment of said threaded plugs, or, a screwdriver may be passed downwardly through the' storagechambers and into the pockets for adjustment of said plugs.

Fig. 5 discloses a further modification of the invention in which a bearing sleeve 96 is provided between the rotary valve 40 and body portion 11.

It will be seen,i that the present invention provides a dental dispensing device for dispensing a predetermined quantity of alloy and mercury, oroth'er like' ingredients, and, which device is simple and compact, and which may bemade with few precision parts'.

While it will be apparent that the preferred embodiments of the invention herein disclosed are well calculated toffuliill the objects above stated, it will be appreciated that the invention is susceptible to modification, variation and. change without departing from the proper scope of fair meaning of the subjoined claims.

What is claimed is; n Y Y c 1. A device of the class described, comprising: a

4 body portion provided' with' a pair o'f vertically disposed', spaced apart bores; said bores extending to the upper surface of said body portion and being open to the atmosphere at said surface; means for covering the upper ends of said bores; a transverse bore in the lower part of said body portion communicating with the lower ends of said vertical bores; a shaftrotatably mounted in said transverse bore; a knob threadably mounted on one end of said shaft adapted to abut one side of said body portion; a handle forming knob threadably mounted on the other end of said shaft adapted to abut the other side of said body portion; stop means mounted' on said body portion toy limit rotation of said handle forming knob; spring means interconnecting said body portion and handle forming knob for biasing said handle forming knob into a predetermined position; a pair of spaced apart pockets in said shaft arranged to register with the lower ends of said vertical bores when' the shaft' is in al first position; a' base xedl'y mounted: onthe lower side of saidV body portion; a funnel formed in said base; a pair of ports inV the lower" side of' said body portion below `said shaft and adapted'to register with' the pockets in said shaft whenA said shaft is turnedto" a second position; and, said portsA being in communication with' said funnel.

2. A device of the' class described; comprising: a body portion providedwitha pair of vertically disposed, spaced apart bores; said' bores extending' to the upper" surface ofy said bodyV portion' and being open to the atmosphere at said surface; means for covering the upper ends of said bores; a transverse bore in the lowenpart'of said body portion communicating withl the lower ends of said vertical bores; a shaft rotatably mounted in saidtransverse bore; a knob threadably mounted on one end of said shaft adapted to abut one side of said body portion; a handle forming knobthreadably mounted on the other end' of said shaft adapted to abut the' other side of said body portiomstopmeans mounted on said body portion to limit rotation of said handle forming knob; spring means interconnecting said body portionv 'and handle forming knob for biasing said handleformingknob' into a predetermined position; a pair of spaced apart pockets' in said shaft arranged to' register with the lower ends of said' vertical bores' when the shaft is-in a first position;

a base xedly mounted on the lower sideof said body y portion; said base having an opening extending there; through; said opening being provided with a spout on the outer side thereof and being in communication with one of said bores; and a chute communicating' with the other of said bores and' with said opening.

3. The invention as set" forth in claim 2, wherein: said shaft is provided'with a threadably mounted axially extending screw which' extends through the handle forming knob' and intol said shaft' and into one of said pockets and is adjustable so as to permit manual variation of the size of said one pocket by threading said screw inwardly ory outwardly of-"said one pocket.

4. The invention as set forth in claim 3', wherein: a bearing sleeve is mounted between said shaft and said body portion. v

5. In a device of the class described, the combination of: a body portion; a pair of spaced apart vertical bores in said body portion extending inwardly from the upper side thereof; means for covering the upper ends of said bores; a transverse bore in the lower part of said body portion; a first pair of ports in said bodyl portion inter connecting said vertical bores and said transverse bore; one of said ports being of 'a larger diameter than the other; ashaft rotatably mounted inrsaid transverse bore; a second pair of ports in said body portion below said transverse bore which are equal in ysize to the first `pair of ports and in alignment therewith and whichcom-y municate with 'saidtransverse bore; afpair of spaced 'apart pockets in said shaft arranged to register alternately with the first pair of ports and the second pair of ports during the rotation ofthe shaft; a base ixedly mounted communication with the smaller of the second pair of ports, and the lower end thereof in communication vwith said opening in said base.

6. The invention as set forth in claim 5, wherein: said shjaft is provided with retaining means on each end thereof to retain said shaft in said body portion; a handle on one of said retaining means; stop means on said body portion for limiting the rotation of said shaft; spring means interconnected between said body portion and said handle for normally maintaining said handle in a predetermined portion; and, means for adjusting the size of one of said pockets.

7. The invention as set `forth in claim 6, wherein: said means for adjusting the size of one of said pockets cornprises a plug threadably mounted in the lower end of said pocket.

8. The invention as set forth in claim 6, wherein: said means for 'adjusting the size of one of `said pockets comprises a screw threadably mounted in said shaft so as to be adjustably engageabl'e with said one pocket.

9. A device of the class described, comprising: a body portion provided with ya pair of vertically disposed, spaced apart bores in the upper end thereof; cover means enclosing the upper end of said vertical bores; a transverse bore in said body portion below said vertical bores; said body portion having a rst pair of openings -between said transverse bore and each of said vertical bores; la rotatable shaft; a pair of pockets in said shaft and adapted to register with said openings; a funnel fixed to the lower side of said body portion; and said body portion having a second pair of openings below said transverse bore and adapted to register =with said pockets and said funnel.

10. The invention as Iset forth in claim 9, wherein: said device is provided with means for ladjusting the size of said pockets.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 954,782 Condon Apr. 12, 1910 1,286,881 Grey Dec. 3, 1918 1,353,467 -Fietsch Sept. 21, 1920 1,462,954 Burnett July 24, 1923 1,721,137 Schmidt July 16, 1929 1,728,526 Brun-hoff lSept. 17, 1929 1,767,928 Jellison June 24, v1930 2,064,719 Baldwin Dec. 15, 1936 2,670,878 Curry Mar. 2, 1954 2,779,502 Ackerman Jan. 29, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS 89,838 Germany Nov. 16, 1921 

